Death of a Rainmaker

A Dust Bowl Mystery

By: Laurie Loewenstein

Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith

When a rainmaker is bludgeoned to death in the pitch-blackness of a colossal dust storm, small-town sheriff Temple Jennings shoulders yet another burden in the hard times of the 1930s Dust Bowl. The killing only magnifies Temple's ongoing troubles: a formidable opponent in the upcoming election, the repugnant burden of enforcing farm foreclosures, and his wife's lingering grief over the loss of their eight-year-old son.

As the sheriff and his young deputy investigate the murder, their suspicions focus on a teenager, Carmine, serving with the Civilian Conservation Corps. The deputy, himself a former CCCer, struggles with remaining loyal to the corps while pursuing his own aspirations as a lawman.

When the investigation closes in on Carmine, Temple's wife, Etha, quickly becomes convinced of his innocence and sets out to prove it. But Etha's own probe soon reveals a darker web of secrets, which imperil Temple's chances of reelection and cause the husband and wife to confront their long-standing differences about the nature of grief.

©2019 Blackstone Publishing (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

All around great murder mystery with unique settin

An all around great murder mystery with lovable characters and an interesting US historical setting

The Dust Bowl Oklahoma comes to life.

Wow! First book by this author and I loved every minute. The author takes you right into the lives of the people of that small town suffering from the depression and drought. Well done! Great narration. I will definitely read the next in the series.

Give This One a Try

It’s a pleasure to listen to a book with a story that flows well, good character development, and leaves you reflective at the end. Historical fiction of a small Oklahoma town struggling after the depression and a severe drought. Folks caring for one another and having faith better days are ahead.

Oklahoma Dust Bowl comes to life

Good details of the Dust Bowl, a CCC camp, real life struggles in a small OK town during the Depression. And good mystery. Really transported me to that time in American history.

Good story

This was a book out of my normal wheelhouse. However, the story caught and kept my attention.

Great reading and storyline.

Excellent narration! Drawn in by realistic characters and vivid story. It was hard to stop listening. Truly an enjoyable experience.

Death of a Rainmaker

First of all, the story is slow and gradual in building to the most amazing full bodied story , that I felt like I knew every character in it , quite well. The story line alone is like no other that I have ever read, hence , finding it quite intriguing.
Heart warming, intriguing, mystery with a touch of humor.
The narrator couldn’t have been better.
Thank you Emily Sutton- Smith, you are terrific!

A poignant portrayal of a difficult time in history…

Though hard at times to forge ahead, this author did a commendable job in showing the man/woman and class relationships of this time in American history. I so enjoyed the sheriffs’ wife’s character. And the radios’ role in family life at the time was spot on! My own father idolized Will Rodgers and recounted to me the sadness felt when he and Wiley Post crashed in Alaska by the whole country! The narration was OK but there were a few glaring mispronunciations that detracted from the whole! I hated for the story to end as it was excellent!

surprise

took a chance on this book when looking for a good read. naratere
Was excellent. Will look into other books by this author and reader

Now, I want to listen to more by this author and narrator!

Enjoyed the history, as well as the characters and story. Plot kept me guessing. Was sad when the story was over. Will look for more by the same author and narrators. Thank you!